Carriage-top



I (No Model.)

' J. D. WHITNEY.

CARRIAGE TOP. l No. 441,813. Patented Deo. 2, 1890.

NESS? L9|Nv NTUH f/ 1w L41. ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONAH D. WHITNEY, OF SYRACUSE, NEWY YORK.

CARRIAG E-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,813, dated December 2, 1890.

l Application filed October 23, 1889. Serial No. 327,902. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern.: p

Be it known that l, JoNAH D. WHITNEY, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State rof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carriage-Tops, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.y

This invention relates to improvement-s in carriage-tops; and it consists in certain details of construction whereby the raising and lowering thereof are easily and expeditiously effected by the occupant ofv the carriage without leaving his seat, all as hereinafter more particularly set-forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side y carriage-top provided with my improvement, showing said top raised and partly broken for lowering. Fig. 2 is a View, partly in section, of the working parts of my invention more enlarged. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig.2 with the outer nut removed. Fig. 4 is a view showing the operating-hook which controls the top braces'. Fig. 5 is a View of the end of one arm of thetop brace, which extends to the forward part of thetop. Fig. 6 is an invert-ed View and shows a modified and simpler construction and arrangement of parts for accomplishing the same result. Y

Carriage-tops are usually held iu a raised or extended position. by means of two side braces extending from the rear part of the seat-rail up and forward to the lower part of the bow-frame -about the middle of the top, and two pairs of braces extendingfrom thence to the forward and rear bows of the top. Said braces are provided with concealed joints at a point nearly midway their length and have usually been pivoted at the middle of the top, and the braces at the side and forward part of the top are left outside of the top covering of carriage. Then so arranged great difficulty is experienced by the occupant in raising or lowering the top, because all four joints must be broken to lower the top and all four locked to secure it in an up right position, and the joints are so far diselevation of a skeleton constructed soon become worn out because of the jarring received in the manipulation thereof. By myimprovement all this is overcome, and tops provided with the same will last longer and the users may manipulate the same with great ease from the inside of the carriage without leaving the seat.

Instead of placing the forward brace on the outer side of the top covering, I employ the longpivot-pin c, mounted pivotally on the top rod or bow-frame A, which pin I extend through to the inside of the top and fit the rear arm of the forward brace thereto, the pin c having Hat-sided end portions c c,while the brace-arm has an eye c corresponding thereto, so that the arm F and pin c move together. On the outside of the covering-cu rtains the brace F is pivoted on said pin c, While the outer end of said pin near its extremity is dat-sided, and a hook-shaped piece b, with an eye corresponding to said at sides, is placed on said pivot-pin and held in position by the nut c. The lower end of said piece b engages the upper end portion of the brace F, and when the parts are properly placed in position the hook b and brace F are in close contact.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the hook l? and the nut c are dispensed with, and the pin c is provided with a head or iiattened end portion b,which has integral with it the stud d. The head b lies outside of the top frame and the stud d' rests against the side brace F. The forward top brace F fits on the flattened portion c', and is held there by a nut screwing onto the threaded extension fz" of the pin c.

The operation of the form shown in Fig. 6 is substantially like the other arrangement shown, except that the stud takes the place of the hook b and less parts are required.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: Assuming the top to be in its raised position, all that is necessary to lower the same as fiat as possible for it to go is to draw down the brace F and break the joint, when the movement of said brace will cause the pivotpin c to turn slightly, carrying with it the IOO hook b or stud d', which presses against the upper arm of the brace F and breaks its joints, thus collapsing the top and allowing it to fall behind the seat. In raising, the movement is reversed,rand when the parts are properly pnt together any movement of one brace-rod (top or side) will cause a corresponding movement of the companion brace on the same side.

The forward top braces are placed on the inside of the cover, so that one person can reach both of them at the same time to assist in lowering or raising the top.V By thus plac ing the forward top braces inside of the cov# ering a much neater finish is imparted to the topas a'whole. i I

It will be observed that by reason of the YYpeculiar form `of the hook b itis automatic in its operation ot' engaging the brace F and disengaging itself therefrom, so that when the brace on the inside of the top is to be' broken the hook engages the side brace on the outside and simultaneously breaks it, and when the top brace-is to be distended independently while the side brace isbroken, the hook automatically disengages itself from the side brace.

It is apparent that by making slight changes in the detail construction and arrangement of the separate parts-such as brace-rods, pin, and location of hook b the construction here shown may be reversed and st-ill bewithin my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a breakingwdevce for carriage-tops, i

tively actuated by the movement of Aone brace, so as to control the movement of v'the other, substantially as described, and for the purpose shown. Y

2. In a carriage-top, the top braces and a hook operated thereby, in combination with the side braces engaged and broken by said hook when the top braces are broken, substantially as described.

In a carriage-top, the top rods or bowframes and the top braces thereof to be arranged inside the cover, and the side braces outside'the cover, combined with the'pin rigidly connected at its inner end to the top braces and carrying at its outer end a hook automatically'engaging and disengaging the side braces which'are pivoted on said pin, l

substantially as and for-the purpose set forth.

4. A carriage-top consisting ofthe top rods or bow-frames A, the pin c, mounted pivotally therein and having attened'ends7 the top braces F and automatic hook b, secured on said flattened ends', and the side braces F, pivoted on the rod adjacent to the' hook and engaged thereby, as set forth, so that the braces F are broken by the breaking of the vbraces F', and bracesF-V may be distended lJoNAH D. wHrrNEY.

all substantially Witnesses:

FREDERICK -II.G1 BBs, S. C. FISCHER. 

